National Republican., 1887-12-07


from duty laid upon imported articles of the
same description, the fact Is not overlooked
that competition among onr domestic pro
ducers sometimes has the effect OF keeping the
price of their products below the highest limit
allowed by such duty. But II Is notorious that
this competition is too often strangled by com
quenly called trusts, which have for their
object the regulation Of the supply aud price
OF commodities made and sold by members of
the combination. The people can hardly hope
for any consideration In the operation OF these
eelfsh schemes.
II, however, In the absence OF such combina.
tlon, healthy and free competition reduces
the price OF any particular dutiable article of
home production below the limit which 1t
might otherwise reach under our tariff laws
and iLwith such reduced price,its mauufaotlre
continues to thrive. IL is entirely evident that
one thing has been discovered which should
be carefully scrutinized In an effort TO reduce
taxation,
The necessity of combination to maintain the
price OF any commodity to the tariil point,
furnishes proof that some one is willing TO
accept lower prices Tor such commodity, aud
that such prices are remuneretiye; aud lover
same thing. Thus whetv ,..n r oftbese Goa.
ditions exist, case would seem IN be pre-
sen,ed for any easy reduction OF taxation.
sented touching our tariff laws are intended
only to enforce an earnest recommendation
that the surplus revenues Of the government
be prevented by the reduction of our customs
suggestion that In accomplishing this purpose
we may discharge double duty to our people
by granting to them measure of relief from
tariff taxation in quarters where II is most
needed and from sources where 1t can be most
fairly and Justly accorded.
Nor can the presentation made OF such con
siderations be, with any degree Of fairness, re.
garded as evidence Of unfriendllness toward
our manufacturing interests, or OF any lack of
appreciation OF their value and importance.
These Interests constitute leading and most
ETcntupsss
and furnish the proud proof of our country's
progress. But II in the emergency that presses
upon us our MANUFACTURERS are asked 10 sur.
render something for the public good aud t.
avert disaster, their patriotism, swell az a
grateful recognition OF advantages already at
foIded, should lead them TO willing co.opari
ton. No demand Is made that they shall
tofego all the benefits of governmental regard
but they cannot foil TO be adinonshed OF their
duty, gs well as their enlishttn ned self,in;eret
and safety, when, tkey are reminded Of the
fact that financial panic aud collapse, to which
the present condition lends, afford no greater
sheler or protection to our manufactures than
to our other important enterfflses. Oppor,u
nifty for safe, careful, and deliberate reform l.
now offered, aud none of us should he unmin !:
ml at time when an abused and irritatei
people, needless OF those who have resisted
timely and reasonable relief, may insist upon
radical ana sweeping rectilication OF their
wropps.
The difficulty attending a wise and fair re.
vision OF our tarin laws ~ not underestimated
IL will require on the part of the Congress great
labor and care, and especially broad and
national contemplation of the subject, and
patriotic disregard of such local and selfish
claims as are unreasonable and reckless of the
welfare of the entire country.
Under our present laws more than four thou.
sand articles are subject to duty. Many of
these do not in any way compete with our own
manufactures, and many ore hardly worth at
te5tion as subjects Of revenue; considerable @
adding them to the free list The taxation of
luxuries presents no features of hardship:, but
the necessaries Of life used and consumed by
AL the people, the duty upon which adds to
| the cost of living In every home, should be
| greatly cheRpened.
The radical reduction Of the duties imposed
| upon raw material used In manufactures, or
Its free importation, is OF course an imp )rtant
factor in any effort to reduce the price OF these
necessaries II would not only relieve them
| from the increased cost caused by the tariff on
| such material, but the manufactured product
being thus cheapened, that part Of the tariff
| now laid upon such product, as n compensa-
Of raw material, could be accordingly modl-
| fed. Such reduction, or free importation.
would serve Abeside to largely reduce the
revenue 1t not apparent now such ma change
facturers. On the contrary, 1t would appear to
| give them better chance In foreign markets
| with the manufacturers OF other countries. who
| cheaper their wares by free material. Thus
| our people might have the opportunity OF ex-
tending their sales beyond the limits of home
| consumption--savingt them from thedepression,
1 "
glutted domestic Market and aiiordng their
| employees more certain and steady labor, with
| its resulting quiet and contentmente
The question thus imperatiyely presented for
solution should be approached in a spirit higher
than partisanship and considered In the light
of that regard for patriotic duty which should
| characterize the action Of those intrustea with
the veal Of n confdinc people. But the obli.
CATION TO declared party policy and principle
| Is not wanting 10 urge prompt and effective
action. Both of the great political parti IS II wv
| peated and authoritative declarations, CA
| demned the condition OF our laws wh,cl per-
mi. the collection from the people OF unuecss-
| sary revenue, and have In the m,E s1iemn
| marIer, promised its core ctioi aud neither
as citizens nor pai tisans are or ounrynea in
mood TO eondone the deliberate violation OF
Our progress toward wi conclu sion will
not be improved by dwelling upon the the.
| oIiCs of protection and free trlde. This sayors
too much of bandying epithets. IL is u rJcdi
| from this condition may involve a slight re.
ductlon OF the advantages which we aw>rd
drawal of such advantages should mot he con
tempatcd. The question of rec trade is ab
soluuly irrelevant, and the persistent claim
made IN Ger ain quarters that oil efforts to re.
lieve the people ii;o; 1:'ji;S; ~! unnecessary
taxation are schemes OF so called free traders,
is mischievous, and farremOYed from any COZ
sideTa,i'n for the public good
| Tho simple and plain duty which we owe
the people Is to reduce taxatlo to the necas.
sary expenses of an economical operation of
the government, and TO restore IT, the business
OF the country the mon'y which we hod in
the treasury through the perry version of gov.
ernmental powers These things can aud
should be done with safety to all our indus
tries, without danger @ tue opportnni,y for
need, and with benefit to them aud all our
people, by cheapcning their means Of sub
sistence and increasing the measure Of their
The constitution provides that the President
shall, from time TO time. give TO the Congress
information OF the state Of the Union" IL ha'
ance with this provision, 10 annually exhibit
to the Congress, at the opening OF It's session,
the general condition OF the country. and to
detail, with some particularity, the operation,
OF the different executive departments. II
would be especially agreeable to follow thi'
course at the present time and to call attention
partments during the last fiscal year. But
am so much impressed with the pardmo lnt
importance OF the subject TO which this com.
munication has thus far been devoted, tn 1t
shall fnrego the addition of any otner topic
/ and only urge upon your immediate conSdurG
tiOn the "stAte of the Union as shown in tle
present condition of our treasury and ouc gen
eral fiscal situation, upon which, every ele'
ment OF our safety and prosperity depends
which will be submitted, contain full aud ex
piicft information touching transaction Of tht
business intrusted TO them, and such recon
mendations relating to legislation In the pub
| lie interest as they deem advisable. ask fo
these reports and recommendations the delib
crate examination and action Of the legislativ,
branch Of the government.
/ There are other subjects not embraced in tht
department reports demanding legislative con
sideration and which should be glad TO sub
NIT. Some of them, however, have beer
earnestly presented In previous messages and
as to them, Ibeg leave to repeat prior recon
mendations.
AS the law makes 10 provision for any re
port from the Department of State, q brief MIS-
tory of the transactions Of that important de-
parimeDt, together with other matters whict
Il may heTeait be deemed essential to CON
mend to the attention oil the Congress, ma,
furnish the occasion for future communici
tion. GROVER CLEVELAND.
| WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. q, 1887